Heroes, not villains

The sector in which Bangladesh has demonstrated itsmost remarkable growth since independence is in remittance earning. More than 10 million Bangladeshi youths - more than the size of the population of each of around 130 countries - earn foreign exchange contributing to the nation's growth over the years sacrificing the prime time of their lives. Bangladesh is among 5-6 countries in terms of remittance earning. Time has come to assess what these youth have received from the country in return.

Society's mindset about the expatriate workers has been exposed during the pandemic. Many of them were embarrassed and some even extorted. A few hundred workers coming from Vietnam and the Middle East have recently found theselvesm in jail at home. They are being blamed for damaging the country's image abroad whereas question remains if authorities concerned took measures to stop the way they were cheated. But the cheats get off scot-free.

Many workers have lost jobs and many remain stranded in different destinations. Study reports say 80 per cent returnees are depressed. These are the people who are behind millions of rural people gettingeconomically solvent. Now, they need access to the stimulus package to survive and in these difficult times. We as a nation have to change our mindsetand treat them as heroes and not as villains.

Altaf Parvez

Muhammadpur, Dhaka

[email protected]